Science & Technology

Wi-Fi™ Broadens Appeal As The Wireless LAN Technology Of Choice

Internet Wire - June 6th, 2001

The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) announced today that 138 Wi-Fi certifications have been awarded since March of 2000, with over 70 products receiving certification this year.

"We are seeing a broader range of Wi-Fi-certified products including access points, PCI cards, Mini PCI modules, USB devices and modules, residential gateways and PCMCIA cards," said WECA's chairman, David Cohen. "We are also seeing an increase in the percentage of companies seeking Wi-Fi certification for their products. At this point, over 55% of WECA's 82 member companies have secured Wi-Fi certification for one or more of their products. This is a clear indication of the growing support for the Wi-Fi brand. This level of support continues to be unmatched by any other wireless LAN technology," continued Cohen.

"This level of support is a clear indication that Wi-Fi wireless LAN technology is becoming a widely accepted part of an organization's technology portfolio. Even sales through retail indicate that it is taking off in the home and small business areas, where its closest competitor runs a distant second place," added Cohen.

A residential gateway (RG) is an access point that is designed for the home, home office or small office. It usually has an Ethernet port that can be connected directly to a DSL or cable modem, or to an Ethernet network. In some cases it may also have an RJ 45 connector for a telephone modem. An RG may also have a built-in NAT router/firewall and a small Ethernet hub, but the configuration depends on the vendor. Mini PCI modules go inside laptop computers to provide wireless LAN communications and are not serviceable by users.

Products awarded the Wi-Fi logo have undergone strict, rigorous and independent testing at Agilent's Silicon Valley Networking Lab (SVNL). Testing usually takes two to four days per product to complete. SVNL has built a reputation for providing objective, high-quality performance, interoperability and functional testing services.